17,394
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − [[Image:Elekcja Wola.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The free election of Augustus II at Wola, outside Warsaw, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in 1697, painted by Bernardo Bellotto.]]+ − Line 47:
Line 46: + + + + +
add bibliog
'''Democracy''' is the government of the people, by the people and for the people (as [[Abraham Lincoln]] defined it). It was invented by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] and has spread widely in western nations since the [[American Revolution]] and the [[French Revolution]] in the late 18th century.
'''Democracy''' is the government of the people, by the people and for the people (as [[Abraham Lincoln defined it]]. It was invented by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] and has spread widely in western nations since the [[American Revolution]] and the [[French Revolution]] in the late 18th century.
Democracy means the people rule and can do anything they want by majority rule. In the U.S. "super majorities" (over 50%) are required for many decisions, such as ratifying a treaty or passing a constitutional amendment. [[Republicanism]] means there is a system of rule of law, or [[inalienable rights]], which no majority can vote out.
Democracy means the people rule and can do anything they want by majority rule. In the U.S. "super majorities" (over 50%) are required for many decisions, such as ratifying a treaty or passing a constitutional amendment. [[Republicanism]] means there is a system of rule of law, or [[inalienable rights]], which no majority can vote out.
The United States, Britain, Canada and many other countries mostly utilize a [[first past the post system]] for elections. The highest vote-getter wins. This limits the number of [[political parties]] and helps to stabilize the system, in contrast to democracies which use [[proportional representation]] where a party winning 5% of the vote is guaranteed a seat. [[Italy]], [[Germany]], [[France]], and [[Israel]] have at times had over 10 parties represented in their legislatures.
The United States, Britain, Canada and many other countries mostly utilize a [[first past the post system]] for elections. The highest vote-getter wins. This limits the number of [[political parties]] and helps to stabilize the system, in contrast to democracies which use [[proportional representation]] where a party winning 5% of the vote is guaranteed a seat. [[Italy]], [[Germany]], [[France]], and [[Israel]] have at times had over 10 parties represented in their legislatures.
==Furtherreading==
* Dahl, Robert. ''On Democracy'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Yale-Nota-Bene/dp/0300084552/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search], by a leading theorist
* Dunn, John. ''Democracy: A History'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-History-John-Dunn/dp/0871139316/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-8 excerpt and text search]
* Held, David. ''Models of Democracy'' (3rd ed. (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Models-Democracy-3rd-David-Held/dp/0804754721/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search], useful textbook
* Schumpeter, Joseph A. ''Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy'' (1943) influential conservative interpretation [http://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061561614/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263246597&sr=8-13 excerpt and text search]
==References==
==References==